Techniques for ATSC 3.0 broadcast boundary area management using complete service reception during scan to determine signal quality of frequencies carrying the duplicate service

ABSTRACT

Techniques are described for expanding and/or improving the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) 3.0 television protocol in robustly delivering the next generation broadcast television services. In a boundary region between first and second broadcast stations in which a receiver can pick up signals from both stations, a lower level signaling PLP is used to identify frequencies duplicatively carrying the same service and then higher level PLPs are activated for each duplicate to determine a channel quality metric for identifying the best frequency to receive the service on, which is sent from both stations.

FIELD

This application relates to technical advances necessarily rooted incomputer technology and directed to digital television, and moreparticularly to Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) 3.0.

BACKGROUND

The Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) 3.0 suite of standardsis a set of over a dozen industry technical standards as indicated inA/300 for delivering the next generation of broadcast television. ATSC3.0 supports delivery of a wide range of television services includingtelevised video, interactive services, non-real time delivery of data,and tailored advertising to a large number of receiving devices, fromultra-high definition televisions to wireless telephones. ATSC 3.0 alsoorchestrates coordination between broadcast content (referred to as“over the air”) and related broadband delivered content and services(referred to as “over the top”). ATSC 3.0 is designed to be flexible sothat as technology evolves, advances can be readily incorporated withoutrequiring a complete overhaul of any related technical standard.

As understood herein, an ATSC 3.0 receiver scans for services includingin reception areas that contain two or more frequencies carrying thesame service, as may occur in a boundary region in which broadcastsignals from two regional ATSC 3.0 broadcaster stations overlap. Theseboundary regions exist in a multifrequency network (MFN). Presentprinciples are directed to managing receiver operation in such regionsas divulged below.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, in broadcast digital television having at least oneboundary region in which at least one DTV receiver receives broadcastsignals from at least first and second digital television broadcastassemblies, a method includes, using a digital television receiver,enabling a first physical layer pipe (PLP). The method also includesscanning a frequency spectrum using the first PLP to render a result andusing the result for identifying at least first and second respectivefrequencies from the respective first and second digital televisionbroadcast assemblies as carrying a first service. The method furtherincludes using respective second and third PLPs for identifyingrespective first and second quality metrics associated with therespective first and second frequencies to form a basis for selectingwhich frequency to tune to for acquiring the first service.

The digital television system can include an advanced television systemscommittee (ATSC) 3.0 system.

In some embodiments, the method may include automatically tuning to thefirst or second frequency based on the quality metric of the respectivefirst or second frequency without user intervention. In otherembodiments, the method may include presenting an audibly or visuallyperceptive message to tune to the first or second frequency based on thequality metric of the respective first or second frequency.

In some examples the digital TV receiver is a mobile receiver.

In an implementation, the first PLP includes a lower level signaling(LLS) PLP and the second and third PLPs include respective service layersignaling (SLS) PLPs that may be identified using a link mapping table(LMT) acquired by means of the first PLP.

In another aspect, a digital television apparatus includes at least onereceiver configured to receive digital television from a digitaltelevision transmitter system that includes at least first and secondbroadcast transmitters. The receiver includes at least one processorprogrammed with instructions to scan a frequency spectrum using a lowerlevel signaling (LLS) physical layer pipe (PLP). The instructions areexecutable to use results of the scan by the LLS PLP to identify atleast one service duplicated by the first and second broadcasttransmitters. Further, the instructions are executable to use results ofthe scan to identify respective service layer signaling (SLS) PLPs toacquire the service from the respective first and second broadcastertransmitters, use the SLS PLPs to determine respective quality metricsassociated with the service from the first and second broadcasterstransmitters, and acquire the service from the first or second broadcasttransmitter having a higher quality signal as determined from the SLSPLPs.

In another aspect, a digital television apparatus includes at least onereceiver that in turn includes at least one processor programmed withinstructions to configure the processor to receive from plural digitaltelevision broadcasters respective frequencies. The instructions areexecutable to use a lower level signaling (LLS) physical layer pipe(PLP) to identify at least one service carried by at least first andsecond frequencies from respective first and second digital televisionbroadcasters, and to identify respective first and second service layersignaling (SLS) PLPs to acquire the respective first and secondfrequencies. Also, the instructions are executable to identify, usingthe respective first and second SLS PLPs, respective first and secondquality metrics of the respective first and second frequencies and toautomatically tune to, or present a message to tune to, the firstfrequency based at least in part on a relationship between the first andsecond quality metrics.

The details of the present application, both as to its structure andoperation, can best be understood in reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and inwhich:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) 3.0system;

FIG. 2 illustrates components of the devices shown in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 illustrates an example specific system;

FIG. 4 illustrates a first example embodiment of a digital TV receiver;

FIG. 5 illustrates a second example embodiment of a digital TV receiver;

FIG. 6 illustrates example logic in example flow chart format consistentwith present principles;

FIG. 7 illustrates an example user interface (UI) consistent withpresent principles;

FIG. 8 illustrates example logic in example flow chart format consistentwith present principles;

FIG. 9 illustrates example logic in example flow chart format consistentwith present principles; and

FIG. 10 illustrates an example user interface (UI) consistent withpresent principles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This disclosure relates to technical advances in digital television suchas in Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) 3.0 television. Anexample system herein may include ATSC 3.0 source components and clientcomponents, connected via broadcast and/or over a network such that datamay be exchanged between the client and ATSC 3.0 source components. Theclient components may include one or more computing devices includingportable televisions (e.g. smart TVs, Internet-enabled TVs), portablecomputers such as laptops and tablet computers, and other mobile devicesincluding smart phones and additional examples discussed below. Theseclient devices may operate with a variety of operating environments. Forexample, some of the client computers may employ, as examples, operatingsystems from Microsoft, or a Unix operating system, or operating systemsproduced by Apple Computer or Google, such as Android®. These operatingenvironments may be used to execute one or more browsing programs, suchas a browser made by Microsoft or Google or Mozilla or other browserprogram that can access websites hosted by the Internet serversdiscussed below.

ATSC 3.0 publication A/331, Annex B, section 13, incorporated herein byreference, may be particularly relevant to techniques described herein.

ATSC 3.0 source components may include broadcast transmission componentsand servers and/or gateways that may include one or more processorsexecuting instructions that configure the source components to broadcastdata and/or to transmit data over a network such as the Internet. Aclient component and/or a local ATSC 3.0 source component may beinstantiated by a game console such as a Sony PlayStation®, a personalcomputer, etc.

Information may be exchanged over a network between the clients andservers. To this end and for security, servers and/or clients caninclude firewalls, load balancers, temporary storages, and proxies, andother network infrastructure for reliability and security.

As used herein, instructions refer to computer-implemented steps forprocessing information in the system. Instructions can be implemented insoftware, firmware or hardware and include any type of programmed stepundertaken by components of the system.

A processor may be a single- or multi-chip processor that can executelogic by means of various lines such as address lines, data lines, andcontrol lines and registers and shift registers.

Software modules described by way of the flow charts and user interfacesherein can include various sub-routines, procedures, etc. Withoutlimiting the disclosure, logic stated to be executed by a particularmodule can be redistributed to other software modules and/or combinedtogether in a single module and/or made available in a shareablelibrary. While flow chart format may be used, it is to be understoodthat software may be implemented as a state machine or other logicalmethod.

Present principles described herein can be implemented as hardware,software, firmware, or combinations thereof; hence, illustrativecomponents, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps are set forth in termsof their functionality.

Further to what has been alluded to above, logical blocks, modules, andcircuits can be implemented or performed with a general-purposeprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), a field programmable gatearray (FPGA) or other programmable logic device such as an applicationspecific integrated circuit (ASIC), discrete gate or transistor logic,discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed toperform the functions described herein. A processor can be implementedby a controller or state machine or a combination of computing devices.

The functions and methods described below, when implemented in software,can be written in an appropriate language such as but not limited tohypertext markup language (HTML)-5, Java®/Javascript, C# or C++, and canbe stored on or transmitted through a computer-readable storage mediumsuch as a random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM),electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), compactdisk read-only memory (CD-ROM) or other optical disk storage such asdigital versatile disc (DVD), magnetic disk storage or other magneticstorage devices including removable thumb drives, etc. A connection mayestablish a computer-readable medium. Such connections can include, asexamples, hard-wired cables including fiber optics and coaxial wires anddigital subscriber line (DSL) and twisted pair wires.

Components included in one embodiment can be used in other embodimentsin any appropriate combination. For example, any of the variouscomponents described herein and/or depicted in the Figures may becombined, interchanged or excluded from other embodiments.

“An [element] having at least one of A, B, and C” (likewise “having atleast one of A, B, or C” and “having at least one of A, B, C”) includesA alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and Ctogether, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.

Turning to FIG. 1 , an example of an ATSC 3.0 source component islabeled “broadcaster equipment” 10 and may include over-the-air (OTA)equipment 12 for wirelessly broadcasting, typically via orthogonalfrequency division multiplexing (OFDM) in a one-to-many relationship,television data to plural receivers 14 such as ATSC 3.0 televisions. Oneor more receivers 14 may communicate with one or more companion devices16 such as remote controls, tablet computers, mobile telephones, and thelike over a short range, typically wireless link 18 that may beimplemented by Bluetooth®, low energy Bluetooth, other near fieldcommunication (NFC) protocol, infrared (IR), etc.

Also, one or more of the receivers 14 may communicate, via a wiredand/or wireless network link 20 such as the Internet, with over-the-top(OTT) equipment 22 of the broadcaster equipment 10 typically in aone-to-one relationship. The OTA equipment 12 may be co-located with theOTT equipment 22 or the two sides 12, 22 of the broadcaster equipment 10may be remote from each other and may communicate with each otherthrough appropriate means. In any case, a receiver 14 may receive ATSC3.0 television signals OTA over a tuned-to ATSC 3.0 television channeland may also receive related content, including television, OTT(broadband). Note that computerized devices described in all of thefigures herein may include some or all of the components set forth forvarious devices in FIGS. 1 and 2 .

Referring now to FIG. 2 , details of examples of components shown inFIG. 1 may be seen. FIG. 2 illustrates an example protocol stack thatmay be implemented by a combination of hardware and software. Using theATSC 3.0 protocol stack shown in FIG. 2 and modified as appropriate forthe broadcaster side, broadcasters can send hybrid service delivery inwhich one or more program elements are delivered via a computer network(referred to herein as “broadband” and “over-the-top” (OTT)) as well asvia a wireless broadcast (referred to herein as “broadcast” and“over-the-air” (OTA)). FIG. 2 also illustrates an example stack withhardware that may be embodied by a receiver.

Disclosing FIG. 2 in terms of broadcaster equipment 10, one or moreprocessors 200 accessing one or more computer storage media 202 such asany memories or storages described herein may be implemented to provideone or more software applications in a top-level application layer 204.The application layer 204 can include one or more software applicationswritten in, e.g., HTML5/Javascript running in a runtime environment.Without limitation, the applications in the application stack 204 mayinclude linear TV applications, interactive service applications,companion screen applications, personalization applications, emergencyalert applications, and usage reporting applications. The applicationstypically are embodied in software that represents the elements that theviewer experiences, including video coding, audio coding and therun-time environment. As an example, an application may be provided thatenables a user to control dialog, use alternate audio tracks, controlaudio parameters such as normalization and dynamic range, and so on.

Below the application layer 204 is a presentation layer 206. Thepresentation layer 206 includes, on the broadcast (OTA) side, broadcastaudio-video playback devices referred to as Media Processing Units (MPU)208 that, when implemented in a receiver, decode and playback, on one ormore displays and speakers, wirelessly broadcast audio video content.The MPU 208 is configured to present International Organization forStandardization (ISO) base media file format (BMFF) data representations210 and video in high efficiency video coding (HEVC) with audio in,e.g., Dolby audio compression (AC-4) format. ISO BMFF is a general filestructure for time-based media files broken into “segments” andpresentation metadata. Each of the files is essentially a collection ofnested objects each with a type and a length. To facilitate decryption,the MPU 208 may access a broadcast side encrypted media extension(EME)/common encryption (CENC) module 212.

FIG. 2 further illustrates that on the broadcast side the presentationlayer 206 may include signaling modules, including either motionpictures expert group (MPEG) media transport protocol (MMTP) signalingmodule 214 or real-time object delivery over unidirectional transport(ROUTE) signaling module 216 for delivering non-real time (NRT) content218 that is accessible to the application layer 204. NRT content mayinclude but is not limited to stored replacement advertisements.

On the broadband (OTT or computer network) side, when implemented by areceiver the presentation layer 206 can include one or more dynamicadaptive streaming over hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) (DASH)player/decoders 220 for decoding and playing audio-video content fromthe Internet. To this end the DASH player 220 may access a broadbandside EME/CENC module 222. The DASH content may be provided as DASHsegments 224 in ISO/BMFF format.

As was the case for the broadcast side, the broadband side of thepresentation layer 206 may include NRT content in files 226 and may alsoinclude signaling objects 228 for providing play back signaling.

Below the presentation layer 206 in the protocol stack is a sessionlayer 230. The session layer 230 includes, on the broadcast side, eitherMMTP protocol 232 or ROUTE protocol 234. Note that the ATSC standardprovides an option to use MPEG MMT for transport, though it is not shownhere.

On the broadband side the session layer 230 includes HTTP protocol 236which may be implemented as HTTP-secure (HTTP(S)). The broadcast side ofthe session layer 230 also may employ a HTTP proxy module 238 and aservice list table (SLT) 240. The SLT 240 includes a table of signalinginformation which is used to build a basic service listing and providebootstrap discovery of the broadcast content. Media presentationdescriptions (MPD) are included in the “ROUTE Signaling” tablesdelivered over user datagram protocol (UDP) by the ROUTE transportprotocol.

A transport layer 242 is below the session layer 230 in the protocolstack for establishing low-latency and loss-tolerating connections. Onthe broadcast side the transport layer 242 uses (UDP 244 and on thebroadband side transmission control protocol (TCP) 246.

The example non-limiting protocol stack shown in FIG. 2 also includes anetwork layer 248 below the transport layer 242. The network layer 248uses Internet protocol (IP) on both sides for IP packet communication,with multicast delivery being typical on the broadcast side and unicastbeing typical on the broadband side.

Below the network layer 248 is the physical layer 250 which includesbroadcast transmission/receive equipment 252 and computer networkinterface(s) 254 for communicating on the respective physical mediaassociated with the two sides. The physical layer 250 converts InternetProtocol (IP) packets to be suitable to be transported over the relevantmedium and may add forward error correction functionality to enableerror correction at the receiver as well as contain modulation anddemodulation modules to incorporate modulation and demodulationfunctionalities. This converts bits into symbols for long distancetransmission as well as to increase bandwidth efficiency. On the OTAside the physical layer 250 typically includes a wireless broadcasttransmitter to broadcast data wirelessly using orthogonal frequencydivision multiplexing (OFDM) while on the OTT side the physical layer250 includes computer transmission components to send data over theInternet.

A DASH Industry Forum (DASH-IF) profile sent through the variousprotocols (HTTP/TCP/IP) in the protocol stack may be used on thebroadband side. Media files in the DASH-IF profile based on the ISO BMFFmay be used as the delivery, media encapsulation and synchronizationformat for both broadcast and broadband delivery.

Each receiver 14 typically includes a protocol stack that iscomplementary to that of the broadcaster equipment.

A receiver 14 in FIG. 1 may include, as shown in FIG. 2 , anInternet-enabled TV with an ATSC 3.0 TV tuner (equivalently, set top boxcontrolling a TV) 256. The receiver 14 may be an Android®-based system.The receiver 14 alternatively may be implemented by a computerizedInternet enabled (“smart”) telephone, a tablet computer, a notebookcomputer, a wearable computerized device, and so on. Regardless, it isto be understood that the receiver 14 and/or other computers describedherein is configured to undertake present principles (e.g. communicatewith other devices to undertake present principles, execute the logicdescribed herein, and perform any other functions and/or operationsdescribed herein).

Accordingly, to undertake such principles the receiver 14 can beestablished by some or all of the components shown in FIG. 1 . Forexample, the receiver 14 can include one or more displays 258 that maybe implemented by a high definition or ultra-high definition “4K” orhigher flat screen and that may or may not be touch-enabled forreceiving user input signals via touches on the display. The receiver 14may also include one or more speakers 260 for outputting audio inaccordance with present principles, and at least one additional inputdevice 262 such as, e.g., an audio receiver/microphone for, e.g.,entering audible commands to the receiver 14 to control the receiver 14.The example receiver 14 may further include one or more networkinterfaces 264 for communication over at least one network such as theInternet, a WAN, a LAN, a PAN etc. under control of one or moreprocessors 266. Thus, the interface 264 may be, without limitation, aWi-Fi transceiver, which is an example of a wireless computer networkinterface, such as but not limited to a mesh network transceiver. Theinterface 264 may be, without limitation, a Bluetooth® transceiver,Zigbee® transceiver, Infrared Data Association (IrDA) transceiver,Wireless USB transceiver, wired USB, wired LAN, Powerline or Multimediaover Coax Alliance (MoCA). It is to be understood that the processor 266controls the receiver 14 to undertake present principles, including theother elements of the receiver 14 described herein such as, forinstance, controlling the display 258 to present images thereon andreceiving input therefrom. Furthermore, note the network interface 264may be, e.g., a wired or wireless modem or router, or other appropriateinterface such as, e.g., a wireless telephony transceiver, or Wi-Fitransceiver as mentioned above, etc.

In addition to the foregoing, the receiver 14 may also include one ormore input ports 268 such as a high definition multimedia interface(HDMI) port or a USB port to physically connect (using a wiredconnection) to another CE device and/or a headphone port to connectheadphones to the receiver 14 for presentation of audio from thereceiver 14 to a user through the headphones. For example, the inputport 268 may be connected via wire or wirelessly to a cable or satellitesource of audio video content. Thus, the source may be a separate orintegrated set top box, or a satellite receiver. Or, the source may be agame console or disk player.

The receiver 14 may further include one or more computer memories 270such as disk-based or solid-state storage that are not transitorysignals, in some cases embodied in the chassis of the receiver asstandalone devices or as a personal video recording device (PVR) orvideo disk player either internal or external to the chassis of thereceiver for playing back audio video (AV) programs or as removablememory media. Also, in some embodiments, the receiver 14 can include aposition or location receiver 272 such as but not limited to a cellphonereceiver, global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver, and/or altimeterthat is configured to e.g. receive geographic position information fromat least one satellite or cellphone tower and provide the information tothe processor 266 and/or determine an altitude at which the receiver 14is disposed in conjunction with the processor 266. However, it is to beunderstood that that another suitable position receiver other than acellphone receiver, GPS receiver and/or altimeter may be used inaccordance with present principles to determine the location of thereceiver 14 in e.g. all three dimensions.

Continuing the description of the receiver 14, in some embodiments thereceiver 14 may include one or more cameras 274 that may include one ormore of a thermal imaging camera, a digital camera such as a webcam,and/or a camera integrated into the receiver 14 and controllable by theprocessor 266 to gather pictures/images and/or video in accordance withpresent principles. Also included on the receiver 14 may be a Bluetooth®transceiver 276 or other Near Field Communication (NFC) element forcommunication with other devices using Bluetooth® and/or NFC technology,respectively. An example NFC element can be a radio frequencyidentification (RFID) element.

Further still, the receiver 14 may include one or more auxiliary sensors278 (such as a motion sensor such as an accelerometer, gyroscope,cyclometer, or a magnetic sensor and combinations thereof), an infrared(IR) sensor for receiving IR commands from a remote control, an opticalsensor, a speed and/or cadence sensor, a gesture sensor (for sensinggesture commands) and so on providing input to the processor 266. An IRsensor 280 may be provided to receive commands from a wireless remotecontrol. A battery (not shown) may be provided for powering the receiver14.

The companion device 16 may incorporate some or all of the elementsshown in relation to the receiver 14 described above.

The methods described herein may be implemented as software instructionsexecuted by a processor, suitably configured application specificintegrated circuits (ASIC) or field programmable gate array (FPGA)modules, or any other convenient manner as would be appreciated by thoseskilled in those art. Where employed, the software instructions may beembodied in a non-transitory device such as a CD ROM or Flash drive. Thesoftware code instructions may alternatively be embodied in a transitoryarrangement such as a radio or optical signal, or via a download overthe Internet.

Now referring to FIG. 3 , a simplified digital TV system such as an ATSC3.0 system is shown. In FIG. 3 , a mobile or stationary digital TVreceiver such as an ATSC 3.0 receiver 300 that may include any or all ofthe relevant components discussed above in relation to FIGS. 1 and 2 islocated in a boundary region 302 between first and second ATSC 3.0broadcast stations or assemblies 304, with signals from both broadcaststations 304 being picked up by the receiver 300 in the region 302. Afirst ATSC 3.0 service (“Service A”) is broadcast from the firstbroadcast station 304 over a first frequency 306, whereas the sameservice A is broadcast from the second broadcast station 304 over asecond frequency 308 different from the first frequency 306. Thereceiver 300 picks up both frequencies, i.e., the receiver 300 picks upsignals from both broadcast stations 304.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example non-limiting embodiment of a digital TVreceiver such as an ATSC 3.0 receiver 400 that may include any or all ofthe relevant components discussed above in relation to FIGS. 1 and 2 .In the example shown, the ATSC 3.0 receiver 400 may be a stationaryreceiver, e.g., a receiver located inside a home. In some examples, theATSC 3.0 receiver 400 may be a mobile receiver, e.g., as by beingimplemented in a mobile phone or being disposed in a moving vehicle.

The example ATSC 3.0 receiver 400 shown in FIG. 4 includes a tuner 402sending signals to a demodulator 404 that the tuner picks up from one ormore antennae 406. In the example shown, the receiver 400 includes oneand only one tuner, one and only one demodulator, and one and only oneantenna.

In contrast, FIG. 5 illustrates an example non-limiting embodiment of adigital TV receiver such as an ATSC 3.0 receiver 500 that may includeany or all of the relevant components discussed above in relation toFIGS. 1 and 2 . In the example shown, the ATSC 3.0 receiver 500 may be amobile receiver, e.g., as by being implemented in a mobile phone orbeing disposed in a moving vehicle. In some examples, the ATSC 3.0receiver 500 may be a stationary receiver, e.g., a receiver locatedinside a home.

The example ATSC 3.0 receiver 500 shown in FIG. 5 includes plural tuners502 sending signals to respective demodulators 504 picked up by thetuners from one or more antennae 506. In the non-limiting example shown,the ATSC 3.0 receiver 500 has two tuners and two demodulators, it beingunderstood that the receiver may have a greater or lesser number oftuner/demodulators. In the non-limiting example shown, the ATSC 3.0receiver 500 has four antennae, it being understood that the receivermay have a greater or lesser number of antennae. The receiver 500 mayhave the capability to switch antennae input to the tuners, such that afirst tuner may receive signals from, e.g., three antennae and a secondtuner may receive signals from the fourth antenna, and then a switch maybe made to swap antenna input between the tuners. Two antennae mayprovide input to each respective tuner. All four antennae may provideinput to a single tuner. These and other antenna-tuner configurationscan be changed on the fly during operation as needed.

FIG. 6 illustrates example logic for using a single lower level(signaling) physical layer pipe (PLP) to acquire information to optimizefrequency tuning in the boundary area 302 in FIG. 3 , while FIG. 7illustrates a UI consistent with FIG. 6 . A PLP is a portion of the RFchannel which has certain modulation and coding parameters. Morespecifically, a single ATSC 3.0 broadcast RF channel can contain one ormore logical channels, called PLPs, and each PLP can carry one or moreaudio video services. In addition, a single service can be carried bymore than one PLP. A lower level PLP can contain information (lowerlevel signaling or LLS) regarding frequency scans, service identifierssuch as broadcast stream identifiers (BSID) and global sessionidentifiers (GSID), and other information. Using the lower level PLP,higher level PLPs carrying AV services and related signaling (such asservice layer signaling or SLS) can be identified.

A BSID is tied through a database to a corresponding broadcast frequencyon which a service, from the particular broadcaster associated with theBSID, can be received. Thus, a first BSID and related information mayindicate that a service can be received from a first broadcaster on afirst frequency, and a second BSID and related information may indicatethat the same service may be received from a second broadcaster on asecond, different frequency than the first frequency.

FIG. 6 illustrates example logic for using a single lower level(signaling) physical layer pipe (PLP) to acquire information to optimizefrequency tuning in the boundary area 302 in FIG. 3 , while FIG. 7illustrates a UI consistent with FIG. 6 . A PLP is a portion of the RFchannel which has certain modulation and coding parameters. Morespecifically, a single ATSC 3.0 broadcast RF channel can contain one ormore logical channels, called PLPs, and each PLP can carry one or moreaudio video services. In addition, a single service can be carried bymore than one PLP. A lower level PLP can contain information (lowerlevel signaling or LLS) regarding frequency scans, service identifierssuch as broadcast stream identifiers (BSID) and global sessionidentifiers (GSID), and other information. Using the lower level PLP,higher level PLPs carrying AV services and related signaling (such asservice layer signaling or SLS) can be identified.

A BSID is tied through a database to a corresponding broadcast frequencyon which a service, from the particular broadcaster associated with theBSID, can be received. Thus, a first BSID and related information mayindicate that a service can be received from a first broadcaster on afirst frequency, and a second BSID and related information may indicatethat the same service may be received from a second broadcaster on asecond, different frequency than the first frequency.

Commencing at block 600, a digital TV receiver such as any of the ATSC3.0 receivers described herein is used to perform an initial frequencyscan to retrieve LLS PLPs. During the scan, for each detected frequency,one or more quality metrics are identified and stored at block 602 alongwith antenna position when a movable antenna is supported. The qualitymetrics can include, e.g., signal to noise ratio (SNR) and error rate asmay be represented by, e.g., packet error number (PEN). The qualitymetrics can include resolution, e.g., whether a service is in highdefinition (HD) or standard definition (SD). The quality metric also caninclude bit-rate and form-factor, recognizing that not all HD is thesame. The quality metrics can include content attributes such as whethera service supports foreign languages, accessibility signaling (e.g.where signing is being done), audio description, and other contentaspects. The quality metrics can include locality preference (such as afirst region channel being strong, but all the ads are for the firstregion and not a second region preferred by the user so that a duplicateservice from the second region may be accorded preference over the firstregion). The quality metrics can include quality of user interfacescarried in the service.

In non-limiting examples SNR may be determined during the scan by notingboth the received signal strength of each received frequency and anyaccompanying noise on that frequency and determining the quotientthereof. Error rate may be determined by, e.g., determining a percentageof packets missed (by noting missing packet numbers) and/or bydetermining a percentage of received packets with errors in them asdetermined by error correction algorithms.

Moving to decision state 604, it is determined, e.g., using serviceidentification information in the LLS PLP, whether any service isduplicatively carried on two or more frequencies from, e.g., two or morebroadcasters whose signals overlap on the boundary area shown in FIG. 3.

If no duplicate services are detected, the logic may proceed to block606 to indicate such. Otherwise, if a movable antenna is supported atdecision state 608, it may be determined at decision state 610 whetheradditional antenna movement is available. If so, the antenna is moved atstate 612 and the logic loops back to block 600 to execute a re-scan ofthe frequency spectrum. It is to be understood that if desired, even ifthe scan reveals duplicate services, the antenna may be moved to do are-scan to find additional duplicates.

In contrast, for each duplicate service detected at state 604 when theantenna cannot be moved, the logic moves to state 614 to select theservice from among the duplicate services (by selecting serviceID) tothe frequency with the best quality metric, e.g., SNR or PEN. Similarly,when antenna movement is supported but no further antenna movement isavailable at state 610, the logic moves to state 616 to select theservice from among the duplicate services (by selecting serviceID) tothe frequency with the best quality metric, e.g., SNR or PEN, alsostoring the antenna position at which the best frequency was detected.

If no difference between quality metrics of two frequencies carrying thesame service satisfies the relevant threshold, one of the frequenciesmay be randomly chosen to tune to present the service when demanded bythe user.

The above logic may be automatically implemented to select a frequencyfor a duplicatively broadcast service for the user when, e.g., the userattempts to tune to the service on either frequency, or the logic may beused to recommend a frequency to the user to allow the user to manuallytune to that frequency for the desired service.

In this latter regard FIG. 7 illustrates a display 700 such as any ofthe displays described herein that can be used to present a UI 702consistent with the logic of FIG. 6 responsive to a user, e.g.,attempting to tune to a desired duplicatively broadcast service. The UI702 may include a prompt or message 704 that a particular service (or“show” or “program”) is being received from two (or more) broadcastregions indicated at 706. A selector 708 may be used by the user toselect which region (and hence which frequency) to receive the desiredservice from.

As shown, each indication 706 may include information about thefrequency from that region on which the desired service is carried. Thisinformation may include the location of the broadcast station in theregion, the resolution (e.g., high definition or standard definition) ofthe service being received from the region, the PEN of the service beingreceived from the region, the SNR of the service being received from theregion, and the direction from the user's present location as indicatedby, e.g., global positioning satellite (GPS) to the broadcast station ofthe region. This latter information may be useful for mobile receiversso that the user may know whether he is traveling toward or away from aparticular station.

While FIGS. 6 and 7 consider the use of only the LLS PLP to determinequality metrics of boundary area frequencies carrying the same service,FIG. 8 illustrates alternate logic that uses more than the LLS PLP toobtain a more granular indication of quality metrics. Commencing atblock 800, a basic scan of frequencies is executed using the LLS PLP.This scan identifies services being received and, hence, whether anyservice or services are being duplicatively received in the boundaryarea from, e.g., two or more broadcasters.

Proceeding to block 802, for duplicate services identified in block 800,a link mapping table (LMT) pointed to by the LLS PLP is accessed toidentify additional higher level PLPs (SLS PLPs) that are required toreceive an SLS table. Using the SLS table, the higher level PLPscarrying a duplicate service are identified and turned on or enabled atblock 804.

Each higher-level PLP includes a ROUTE signaling structure called aservice-based transport session instance description (S-TSID), which ispart of the service layer signaling and which indicates properties ofchannels including a transport session identifier (TSI) value for eachchannel, descriptors for the delivery objects/files, and applicationlayer forward error correction (FEC) parameters ROUTE sessions for thecomponents delivered in the broadcast stream which delivers S-TSIDitself. For each frequency carrying each duplicate service, the S-TSIDis received at block 806 and checked for additional PLPs that may berequired to access a duplicate service. Any identified additional PLPsare enabled at block 808.

Moving to block 810, using the now-enabled PLPs are checked to determinetheir quality metrics including PEN and/or SNR. In this way, only PLPsassociated with duplicatively carried services are turned on andmonitored for quality, relieving the receiver of laboriously checkingevery possible PLP including many which will not be duplicativelycarrying a service.

Note that the higher level PLPs may be accessed using the same or adifferent tuner/demodulator than that used to access the lower levelPLP. Likewise, the higher level PLPs may be accessed using the same or adifferent antenna than that used to access the lower level PLP.

A tuner/demodulator may turn on all the PLPs needed when rendering theservice in its entirety. In some implementations a secondtuner/demodulator may completely receive the service, knowing it isduplicative, whilst allowing the primary to continue with its scanningin parallel. This would speed up the process. The secondary tuner mayneed to queue up the duplicate frequencies as the primary tuner findsthem. In any case the secondary tuner may activate all PLPs, includingthe LLS PLP, to receive and measure the complete service.

Ending at state 812, for each identified duplicatively received serviceby the receiver, the best frequency is selected, either automatically orby the user using, e.g., a UI similar to that shown in FIG. 7 , toreceive the service, typically upon demand for the service by the user.

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate yet another technique for identifyingduplicatively received services on differing frequencies and providingthe best frequency for a duplicate service to the user. Commencing atblock 900 in FIG. 9 , a receiver such as the ATSC 3.0 receiver 500 shownin FIG. 5 uses one of its plural tuner/demodulators to receive a desiredservice (and play the service). This tuner/demodulator may be consideredto be a primary tuner/demodulator and may receive input from, e.g.,three of four of the antennae shown in FIG. 5 .

The receiver, during play of the service, may also use another one ofits tuner/demodulators, which may be considered a secondarytuner/demodulator, to scan for duplicate services at block 902. Thesecondary tuner/demodulator may use only a single antenna. It is to beunderstood that the primary may use fewer than three antennae as inputand the secondary may use more than one antenna as input. Note that thescan for duplicate services at block 902 may employ, for instance, thetechnique of FIG. 7 or the technique of FIG. 8 or other suitabletechnique.

Proceeding to block 904, using information from the scan at block 902one or more quality metrics (SNR, PEN, or other desired metric) of thefrequency on which the service is being received by the primarytuner/demodulator as well as the quality metrics of the frequency onwhich the service is duplicatively detected using the secondarytuner/demodulator are determined. Decision state 906 indicates that theprimary and secondary metrics are compared to determine whether thedifference between them satisfies a threshold. If not, the logic mayloop back to block 900, but when the difference satisfies the threshold(i.e., the frequency from the secondary tuner/demodulator may beconsidered to be significantly better in terms of quality than theprimary), the logic moves to block 908.

At block 908, the secondary tuner/demodulator automatically may be usedto deliver the demanded service for presentation of the service, withthe primary tuner/demodulator being switched use to scan for duplicateservices. In addition or alternatively, a re-scan and re-tune ofavailable frequencies may be automatically executed by the primaryand/or secondary tuner/demodulator.

Yet again, instead of automatic corrective action, the user may beinformed of the duplicate service situation and allowed to take action.FIG. 10 illustrates an example display 1000 such as any of the displaysdescribed herein presenting an example UI 1002 with a message or prompt1004 that the demanded service is available on another, betterfrequency. The user may select a selector 1006 to tune to the betterfrequency (i.e., the frequency detected by the secondarytuner/demodulator). Or, the user may select a selector 1000 to executean automatic re-scan of the spectrum and re-tuning to the best frequencycarrying the demanded service. Further information for each frequencycarrying the demanded service such as the information illustrated inFIG. 7 may be used in the UI 1002 of FIG. 10 .

It is to be understood that while visually perceptive UIs areillustrated herein, the UIs may be perceived by a person visually and/oraudibly (e.g., played on speakers), and/or tactilely, e.g., byactivating a haptic generator system to generate tactile signalsrepresenting the elements of the UIs described herein.

It will be appreciated that whilst present principals have beendescribed with reference to some example embodiments, these are notintended to be limiting, and that various alternative arrangements maybe used to implement the subject matter claimed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. In digital television system comprising at leastone boundary region in which at least one DTV receiver receivesbroadcast signals from at least first and second digital televisionbroadcast assemblies, a method, comprising: using a digital televisionreceiver, enabling a first physical layer pipe (PLP); scanning afrequency spectrum using the first PLP to render a result; using theresult, identifying at least first and second respective frequenciesfrom the respective first and second digital television broadcastassemblies as carrying a first service; and using respective second andthird PLPs, identifying respective first and second quality metricsassociated with the respective first and second frequencies to form abasis for selecting which frequency to tune to for acquiring the firstservice.
 2. The method claim 1, wherein the digital television receivercomprises an advanced television systems committee (ATSC) 3.0 receiver.3. The method of claim 1, comprising automatically tuning to the firstor second frequency based on the quality metric of the respective firstor second frequency without user intervention.
 4. The method of claim 1,comprising presenting an audibly or visually perceptive message to tuneto the first or second frequency based on the quality metric of therespective first or second frequency.
 5. The method of claim 1, whereinthe digital TV receiver is a mobile receiver.
 6. The method of claim 1,wherein the first PLP comprises a lower level signaling (LLS) PLP. 7.The method of claim 6, wherein the second and third PLPs compriserespective service layer signaling (SLS) PLPs.
 8. The method of claim 1,wherein the second and third PLPs are identified using a link mappingtable (LMT) acquired by means of the first PLP.
 9. A digital televisionapparatus comprising: at least one receiver configured to receivedigital television from a digital television transmitter systemcomprising at least first and second broadcast transmitters, thereceiver comprising: at least one processor programmed with instructionsto: scan a frequency spectrum using a lower level signaling (LLS)physical layer pipe (PLP); use results of the scan by the LLS PLP toidentify at least one service duplicated by the first and secondbroadcast transmitters; use results of the scan to identify respectiveservice layer signaling (SLS) PLPs to acquire the service from therespective first and second broadcaster transmitters; use the SLS PLPsto determine respective quality metrics associated with the service fromthe first and second broadcasters transmitters; and acquire the servicefrom the first or second broadcast transmitter having a higher qualitysignal as determined from the SLS PLPs.
 10. The digital televisionapparatus of claim 9, wherein the digital television receiver comprisesan advanced television systems committee (ATSC) 3.0 receiver.
 11. Thedigital television apparatus of claim 9, wherein the instructions areexecutable to automatically tune to the first or second broadcasttransmitter based on the quality of the respective signal without userintervention.
 12. The digital television apparatus of claim 9, whereinthe instructions are executable to present an audibly or visuallyperceptive message to tune to the first or second broadcast transmitter.13. The digital television apparatus of claim 9, wherein the receivercomprises one and only one tuner.
 14. The digital television apparatusof claim 9, wherein the receiver is not a mobile receiver.
 15. Thedigital television apparatus of claim 9, wherein the use of the resultsof the scan by the LLS PLP to identify at least one service duplicatedby the first and second broadcast transmitters requires no PLPs otherthan the LLS PLP.
 16. A digital television apparatus comprising: atleast one receiver comprising at least one processor programmed withinstructions to configure the processor to: receive from plural digitaltelevision broadcasters information from respective frequencies; use alower level signaling (LLS) physical layer pipe (PLP) to identify atleast one service carried by at least first and second frequencies fromrespective first and second digital television broadcasters, and toidentify at least first and second service layer signaling (SLS) PLPsfor acquiring the first and second frequencies; identify, using therespective first and second SLS PLPs, respective first and secondquality metrics of the respective first and second frequencies; andautomatically tune to, or present a message to tune to, the firstfrequency based at least in part on a relationship between the first andsecond quality metrics.
 17. The digital television apparatus of claim16, wherein the digital television receiver comprises an advancedtelevision systems committee (ATSC) 3.0 receiver.
 18. The digitaltelevision apparatus of claim 16, wherein identifying at least oneservice carried by at least first and second frequencies from respectivefirst and second digital television broadcasters comprises scanning afrequency spectrum using the LLS PLP.
 19. The digital televisionapparatus of claim 18, wherein identifying respective first and secondSLS PLPs uses a link mapping table (LMT) acquired by means of the LLSPLP.
 20. The digital television apparatus of claim 16, wherein thereceiver is a mobile receiver.